Hard to believe that this IM conversation just happened.

There are web sites that will allow you to turn an IM conversation into a cartoon. I am still amazed.








created using chatfu - a comic strip generator

A charlatan gets unwanted attention

I don't enjoy seeing shame come upon Christians or prominent leaders who "represent" Christ. Every so often, they will do something stupid and get their due reward here on earth. The obvious examples are Robert Tilton, Jim Bakker, and Jimmy Swagart. More recently, it was Ted Haggard. There has been a resurgence of Bakker, Swaggart, and Tilton, but none to their former glory.

What impresses me about Billy Graham is that he has been in ministry for all this time and has never had a scandal. He does what he feels called to do and nothing more. I believe that he does not fit the Biblical example of an evangelist, but he does preach the Gospel.

I want to believe the best in all preachers. I want all "televangelists" to be reputable and truthful. Unfortunately, many are "money changers" and preach the abominable "health and wealth gospel". Sorry, but been there, done that. I know what they teach. I have been a part of their congregations, done their radio ministry, and even preached their pablum myself. Thankfully, I have been delivered from that mess.

It seems common lately for big name ministries to believe that they are beyond reproach financially. Even if that means in terms of taxation. Kent Hovind is going to prision for tax evasion. Now, Morris Cerullo is in trouble for the same thing.

Cerullo, like most televangelists, started out clean. Rod Parsley was clean at one time. Kenneth Copeland and Jesse Duplantis started out with a clean ministry at one time. Some have varying degrees of leaven and are more tolerable than others. Cerullo had great intentions and tried hard to do what he believed was his God given call. He picked up some of the pieces of the Bakker's fallen TV network. Unfortunately, he has been corrupted by the love of money.

Several years ago, I was invited to go with a friend to a Morris Cerullo meeting in Raleigh. The meeting was only by invitation, and was held at the Meymandi Concert Hall. The only ones invited were those on his ministry/financial supporters list.

We had the obligatory pep rally "praise and worship" music. It was announced that Morris Cerullo had a special "word from the Lord" that he wanted to give just for those in the Raleigh area. Cerullo finally took the podium and talked in his slowwww, drawn out way. He proceeded to tell everyone that he had a word from the Lord, started quoting scriptures about obeying the prophet's word, and finally got to his message.

His entire so called prophecy was that God said that all of his financial supporters need to give more money to his ministry. Period. That was the bottom line. He took many more words to say it, but that was it. I was so pissed, I couldn't stand it and had to leave. While people were rejoicing, giving "amen" after "amen", and dancing in the aisles over a false prophecy, I was steaming mad at the insult given in the name of my God.

I am very careful about where I give money in regards to ministry. Sometimes I give, other times I refuse. This was one occasion where I refused. I had a bad witness about that whole event the entire time I was there. I knew the deception and discerned that something was wrong, even before Cerullo spoke. While others celebrated, I wanted to weep. I wanted to do as "Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest" did and run a javelin through him. Phinehas dealt with corruption and whoring in the congregation. Cerullo was whoring for money.

The indictment was in 2005 and the trial is about to begin, it seem. Look at the bottom of the page on that link for the indictment part of the story.

Take heed where you put your faith, and IN WHOM you put it. Be careful where you sow your seed. It may not be as fertile a soil as you think. If you enable the corruption, you may reap it.

I am probably going to vote for this man in the primary election in 2008

If he only knew how right he is.

I would like to see this when it gets released in this area

This is a movie made about and in the state of New Hampshire. It will be interesting to see if Live Free or Die has any scenery that I am familiar with. Either way, it should be amusing.

2nd Amendment court victory. Freedom protected.

I have seen several stories today about the 2nd Amendment victory in Washington DC today. Great news for gun owners and our right to keep and bear arms. Here is a compilation of information on the court ruling. Why bother re-inventing the wheel, so to speak. Just go to their blog and see it.

Stupid reasoning

Outdoors retailer Cabela’s has turned down Four Oaks as a site for a store. That's too bad. I was watching this story and hoping that our area would get a Cabela's. The stupid part is the reason for not putting one here. "Cabela’s plans to build a store in Richmond, Va...The company felt that a store in Four Oaks would be too close."

Too close? Richmond is a three frickin' hour drive away! I don't drive three hours to go to a sporting goods store, thank you. I am glad that Wal-Mart doesn't think that way. Dick's Sporting Goods is doing fine with stores right down the road from each other. The same with stores like Petsmart. That is a retarded reason for not putting in a Cabela's. I am going to write them and tell them so.

Here is The Smithfield Herald story.

Here is some of what I wrote them:

The recent decision to not put a Cabela's in our area is greatly disappointing. The most disappointing part is one very STUPID reason, and I quote, "Cabela’s plans to build a store in Richmond, Va...The company felt that a store in Four Oaks would be too close." Apparently, someone doesn't know how to read a map. Richmond is 3 hours drive away!!! It is one thing to turn down the location for other reasons, and I am sure there are other legitimate reasons for it. I serve on the local planning board for a town just several miles up the interstate and would love to work on helping Cabela's come to the region. I am a firearms and sporting collector and enthusiast. Don't let some reason as stupid as another planned store a few hundred miles away hose up wonderful plans for a store we have been longing for!!!!! You will find comments left on gunandgame.com and troylaplante.com for starters. We need a store like yours in this area, and really hate to see stupidity reign.

Sweetwater's Restaurant is now open again.

I took my wife out to dinner this evening. I noticed that Sweetwater's was open again. A while back, the restaurant closed without warning. I have since heard some of the reasons as to why, but I am not going to publish them here. I will give you the news story about it. Don't believe every detail you read in the media, though.

I had the Polynesian chicken with mashed potatoes and snap peas. Great stuff. We never got to try the new menu items before the restaurant closed in January. The chicken dish was not new, but the addition of mashed potatoes was new. I am glad of that. Give them a try. Here is their web site.

I was born with more hair than this

When I get a haircut, I like to get it cut short. Last time I went, I checked out a local barber shop and had a nice young man, Cleavon Earp, cut my hair. I enjoyed talking to him and he did a good job. This time, his shop was busier and I had to wait a bit. He is used to cutting very short styles on Black men, and he really cut me shorter than I am used to. I don't believe I have ever been as close to being bald as I am right now. I will have to tell ol' Cleavon to "leave on" just a little more than he did this time. Sure, I will go to him again. I just need to be a bit more specific about just how short I want my hair. It is more like stubble than hair. I have grown my beard out longer than this in a week than I now have on top of my head. Boy, it feels weird.

County insanity...then a bit of sanity restoration...and then maybe more insanity

There are two items of interest in this afternoon's news read. First is the rejection of the proposed county fees for Health Department restaurant inspections. The next is Johnston County's proposal to publish tax delinquency notices in just one newspaper.

First, let me start with the proposed county fees for Health Department inspections of restaurants and hotels/motels. State law requires sanitation inspections. County departments of health supply that service. It is an unfunded mandate by the state with the burden placed on local counties. Johnston County Health Department claims that the service costs about $375K per year. They want to recover that cost, since the state pays almost nothing towards these costs. It is my understanding that all restaurants already pay a fee to the state for such services. If the state does not turn that money over to the county department that actually performs that service, that is a business owner's problem HOW???

Well, that is why we pay taxes. Our tax dollars pay the state to administrate the issue. Unfortunately, we also pay county taxes for these same services. The county picks up the tab and we county tax payers fork out for that. I don't care if half of the other counties in the state do charge a second fee for these services. That does not make it right.

I see two things here. First is that even if the county did charge inspection fees and recover the costs of inspection services, I doubt highly that the county will lower the tax burden by that same $375,000 to all of us who pay that money. They will just add it to their budget and continue to spend.

The second effect will be that the increased fees will be passed along to us who eat at these restaurants. We will foot the bill for the cost of inspection fees by way of higher food prices. We will also continue to pay the same $375,000 in taxes. We already pay for the state inspection fees (for inspections they do not perform) in our food prices. We already pay for these inspections twice. Why pay a third or fourth time?

The insanity of the fees was hard to swallow. The County Commissioners rejected the fee proposal. For that, they have my kudos and my thanks.

Here is the news item in today's WMPM news page:

County Rejects Restaurant And Lodging Inspection Fees - County commissioners have rejected a proposal from Health Department Director Dr. Marilyn Pearson to begin charging fees for food and lodging inspections. The resolution, from the Johnston County Health Department, said inspections of restaurants and motels costs county taxpayers $375,000 annually to meet state requirements. However, the state provides less than $13,000 per year in support of the inspections. Dr. Pearson told commissioners that 50 boards of health and two dozen county boards of commissioners have adopted the resolution, which if it becomes state law, would give counties the right to cover the costs of inspecting establishments. Linwood Parker, the owner of White Swan and the Mayor of Four Oaks, said the resolution was government imagining a new way to tax small business. Parker said restaurants already pay the state to have the inspections, but it wasn’t restaurant owners fault the state kept all the money. Commissioner Wade Stewart said, "It sounds like our local health board has signed on to try and hit our local businesses." Commissioners Ray Woodall and Allen Mims tried to get the resolution approved, by it was voted down by fellow commissioners.

The next bit of insanity is the county tax administrator's proposal to publish the delinquency notices in just one newspaper. Look, if it is a requirement to do so, then it should be published in ALL newspapers in the county. Not everyone reads "The Smithfield Herald". I don't subscribe to their paper. I only read their web site. I subscribe to "The Selma News". If it is required that the notice be made public, then I will not get the notice.

I really don't care about reading who owes taxes and who does not. However, if it is a public requirement, then it should be made a public publication everywhere. It is only fair that all areas of the county be covered, not just the territory or subscriber base of one particular paper. It is also not fair to exclude all other publications in favor of one. That is just unethical. I don't care if The Herals has the higest subscriber base. What about those people in Clayton, Kenly, Wilson's Mills, Benson, Princeton, and Selma?

If it is required to publish the list and the county wants to exclude newspapers, then ads should be placed in all newspapers and on radio and local TV stating that a list will be available in all county offices, libraries, and on the county web site. THAT would be the fair way of handling the issue.

I don't believe the quote in the story, "The financial savings are less than the time value involved in preparing and taking notices to the different publications". That is just an excuse for either a lazy staff or the issue really is about the cost. If it is really about time, then have the publication made ONE time by ONE printer and have copies delivered to each publication for inclusion as a supplement or insert. That would take away that excuse real quick.

In terms of fairness to each publication, yes, it would indeed be favoritism of one newspaper over another. I don't see The Herald as needing favoritism. They are part of a huge corporation, the McLatchy Company. That is the same company that owns "The News & Observer" in Raleigh, amongst a group of about 80 newspapers. If you are going to favor publications, favor the small town newspaper that struggles to meet deadlines, payroll, and budgets yet serves the public with a less corporate flavor.

Here is the story from WMPM's news page.

Request To Publish Delinquent Tax Notices In One Newspaper Could Be Seen As Favoritism - Johnston County Commissioners want more time to think about a request from Tax Administrator Pat Goddard to only publish delinquent tax lien notices in the Smithfield Herald and bypass paying for the ads in other local newspapers, like the Kenly News and Clayton News Star. Goddard said by only advertising delinquent tax notices in the Smithfield Herald, it would save time and money. “The financial savings are less than the time value involved in preparing and taking notices to the different publications,” she told commissioners. County Manager Rick Hester said such a move by county commissioners would most likely be seen as favoritism and should probably be reconsidered.

Do I D.A.R.E. say it?

I made a trip to the local Wally World this evening. I saw an off duty police officer in a suit (I assume he was, based upon the look, the haircut, and the program he represented) handing out propaganda about the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program.

From the several sources I have read over the years, D.A.R.E. has been a colossal waste of time and money, with statistically little or no success. I have heard police officers admit that very thing, as well.

I seem to annoy the officers who teach this program each time they set up a propaganda table outside the local supermarket or show up at a local festival. Each time they want to pitch to me, they usually ask if I want to "check out something new going on" and then ask me if I am familiar with the D.A.R.E. program. I usually answer something like I did this evening, "Yeah, it is one of the most ineffective and useless programs ever created".

When I give that answer, I NEVER get any argument. I actually have gotten agreement that the program was a colossal failure, but am told that it has since been restructured and is more effective now than it used to be. I don't know about that, though.

I am rather libertarian in my views on drug use. I really could not care less if my neighbor smokes a joint, puts a straw up his nose, or a needle in his veins. However, once his habit starts to affect me, cost me money, attracts riff raff in my neighborhood because he is dealing, or he gets behind the wheel of a car, then I have a serious problem with his drug habit.

As much as I hated growing up with an alcoholic for a father who was also a chain smoker, I never payed much attention to the anti-alcohol campaigns. I have never tried smoking because I thought it was a disgusting habit. I never tried drugs because I thought it was a stupid thing to do. I did drink quite a bit in my teens and early twenties. I have never been an alcoholic, though. I never allowed it to control my life.

I still have a good cold one now and then, but usually only one and they are few and far between. I have had associates who believe it sinful or evil to consume any beverage containing alcohol, but I really don't care, nor do I have any theological problems with such. From what I have read and wholeheartedly believe, it is a matter of moderation, not total abstinence. Hey, they called the Lord a "wine bibber". At my age, I have long since decided that if I am going to have a beer or any other adult beverage, it is going to be a quality one, and I can afford to be picky. When I was in college, I was far less picky, but still had my favorites.

My point is that people are going to do or not do what they have a mind to do or not do. A cop standing in a classroom imploring kids to never do drugs may seem like a good thing to do, but I sure wonder about its worth or efficacy. I have heard stories of old cops who taught D.A.R.E. 20 years ago getting kind words from former elementary school kids thanking them for their efforts and praising the effectiveness thereof.

Still, I have not read any favorable statistics over the years and wonder if it is really worth it. Google the phrase "D.A.R.E. effectiveness" for yourself. One interesting page in the search results is this one.

Eminent domain abuse thwarted...at least in this case.

The Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution says "nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." That is pretty straight forward. Occasionally, the federal government, states, and municipalities will abuse their authority in taking private property. Sometimes it is for public use. Other times the abuse is solely for political favors and increasing tax base, such as in the Kelo decision. That was one horrific and unjust decision.

Locally, we have seen eminent domain abuse by shafting property owners by not paying the fair value of the property being taken. The Smithfield Herald has a story of one couple who were getting hosed by the State of North Carolina and were not being paid the fair value for their property. Not only did the State condemn their property and then grossly undervalued it, their justification for the undervaluation was based upon a situation they themselves created for the property years ago when they took some of that farm for eminent domain use.

The first eminent domain property taken to build a highway left the remaining property with no main highway access, only service road access. Allegedly, that made the property less valuable. That is not a situation created by the couple who owned the property. It was solely a creation of the state. Now the state wants more of their property to do more highway construction. The state has undervalued the property, based upon the fact that they created a lack of access to the property previously. That is just wrong.

The couple put up a fight, had a private appraisal of their land, and won in court. To attempt to shaft the property owner while taking away their land "without just compensation" is morally wrong. I am glad to see that they won their case and will get their true just compensation for their loss.

My inner dialogue precisely

One great thing about getting older

As time goes by and the music I used to listen to gets older, the better and more classic songs get put on to "greatest hits" albums....er...CDs. One greatest hits compilation I bought recently is one that I had in the late 80's. Journey's greatest hits CD used to be in my collection before I sold off my entire cassette and CD collection in the early 90's.

At the time, I was young and poor. I had also just come to Jesus and was very tender in the faith. I could not handle listening to secular music as a babe in Christ. I boxed up all of my secular music collection, which was just about everything, and sold them to a used record store. I only got about $150 for everything, but I needed the cash. 15 plus years later, I have found myself buying a lot of those same CDs or compilations containing many of the same songs.

This morning, it was Journey on the way into work. Music from the 80's was a lot more fun than the rock or hit music in the 90's and the 2000's. There is still some good stuff I run across from time to time, but much of it is dark in its sound.

I have not listened to contemporary Christian music for years, either. Ever since I stopped working in Christian radio, I have not listened to much at all. The stuff I have heard has not impressed me.

Anyway, the conference call I am in is almost over and I need to get back to work...as soon as people stop talking and hang up.

This sums up my feelings well

I have seen several episodes of the Showtime series, "Penn and Teller's Bullshit" over the past two years. The two guys are talented "magicians" and have a great act. They are also very politically minded. Usually, I find myself on opposite sides of their beliefs, though. They are avowed athiests and bash any and all religion, often out of sheer ignorance. They are crude in their use of vulgar language in their show, as well.

Sometimes, they hit a perfect note, so to speak, on topics like gun control, on exposing false religious icons, Ouija boards, mediums, etc. I loved their gun control episode enough to dub it to tape.

This evening, I ran across a clip of theirs on the net about their message to terrorists. I feel much the same way and have ever since 9/11 happened.

WARNING! Language in this video clip is NOT suitable for work or for children!
Now you can't say you weren't warned ahead of time.

Obama is not Black, apparently

Selma files public nuisance suits

The debate has been hot and heavy over public nuisance suits against two area businesses. At one town council meeting, there was a heated public forum. I wrote about the idea of shutting down businesses both in this blog and in my newspaper column.

The latest development is that the nuisance lawsuit has been filed, not just threatened. Here is an article on the WMPM web site:

Nuisance Abatement Lawsuit Filed Against Two Selma Stores - Selma town leaders normally work to promote businesses in their town, but there are two exceptions. A nuisance abatement lawsuit has been filed against the Lighthouse Food Mart and Brotherhood Market, seeking to have them permanently closed. Since 2003, police have responded to nearly 200 calls at the businesses, at the corner of Pollock and Noble Streets, many for drug-related offenses. “Both locations have continued to be a place for drugs to be sold, especially in the last 15 years,” Police Chief Charles Bowen told WMPM in December. Many of the incidents, Bowen said have been undercover drug buys in the parking lots of both businesses beside Highway 301. Others have been violent crimes. In December 2005, Alexander Thorne was shot three times while standing outside the Brotherhood Market. In June 2003, Robert Lee Rogers was attacked by a gang of 10 men and beaten with a metal pipe. In December 2003, Mosi Williams was stabbed while talking on the payphone. Chief Bowen presented the surprisingly high number of calls at both businesses to the Selma Town Council during their December meeting, who agreed it was time something needed to be done. The Town of Selma and Johnston County District Attorney’s Office filed the nuisance abatement lawsuit against both stores last week. A date for a court hearing has not been set.

Vote NOOOOOOO on May 8

From the Smithfield Herald site:

Smithfield — If you plan to vote on the three upcoming bond issues for public schools, Johnston Community College and countywide recreation projects, then circle May 8 on your calendar.

On Monday, County Commissioners set the referendum date and urged supporters to tell neighbors and friends to "vote thrice."

I will vote thrice...just NAY each time. Enough is enough. If charter schools can run fine without funding for facilities, so can the government run schools. When our school systems use the money we give them to the utmost efficiency, then I will consider it.

A bond issue for recreation facilities is just wrong, in my opinion. When we have sufficient revenue to start paying for such things out of a normal budget without borrowing heavily for it, then we can consider dumping more cash into P&R. Until then, stop raping the tax payers for a "good idea". Not every good idea should be done.

Thanks for the community support

I have read about how Ken and Pat Weaver, local merchants here in Selma donated money for the purchase of a taser for the Selma Police Department. Recently, some petroleum companies followed suit and donated money for more of them. The Weavers and the petroleum companies are to be congratulated for their assistance to the community, and I do so now. Thank you for your generous support to our town.

From WMPM's news page:

Community Support Enables Selma Police To Purchase 5 Taser Guns - Selma Police have been able to purchase five taser guns thanks to the generosity of local businesses and residents. Three taser guns were purchased after the Selma Petroleum Cooperative Association gave the department a $2,400 check. Waccamaw Transport chipped in an additional $800 to buy another taser. Pat and Ken Weaver donated $800 last year to buy the department’s first taser weapon. Tasers are a non-lethal weapon used to subdue unruly suspects.

Less than lethal force methods are great tools if used properly. I have a civilian version of a taser, but don't feel like trying it on my own self. The idea is to never have to use one, sort of like fire or auto insurance.

Since I don't live far away, I find nukes in Goldsboro interesting

"On Tuesday, 24 January 1961, at about 12:30 a.m., two hydrogen bombs fell to earth near the tiny farming village of Faro, NC." Interesting. Here is the web site.

I am thinking about switching banks

My bank, Bank of America, has been in the news about starting a program to give credit cards to illegal aliens. One would not need a US Social Security number in order to get a card. Let a law abiding American show up and a Social Security number and credit check would be mandatory. That is just wrong. Not only does this encourage illegal immigration, it is aiding and abetting. Today, there is an article about the bank defending its plans.

In addition, a credit card is needed to book airfare. It is said that the credit limit will be only $500, so that there will be less risk. Well, it costs less than $500 to book many flights in this country. The 9/11 hijackers all booked airfare with credit cards somehow. If no proof of citizenship or identity is necessary, it is conceivable that this would be aiding and abetting a possible terrorist attack in this nation.

What really irks me about this is that it is just another way that people who are here ILLEGALLY are getting preferential treatment over this nation's citizens. It is happening with the US and Social Security, and now with financial institutions. I have no problem with the free market. I do have a problem with encouraging law breaking.

It about makes me want to withdraw all of my money from Bank of America. I have been doing business with them since about 1990, when the bank was still NCNB. Since I have lived in Johnston County, it has been difficult to continue using them. They only added a Clayton branch in the last several years, which is the only nearby branch. That is fifteen miles away. I love their online and free checking, and they have issued me a MasterCard (with SS# and credit check, thank you). After this pandering, I may just change my accounts.

Vote For Troy

I know it is early yet, but I have already been working on the upcoming election at the end of this year. Every odd year is a municipal election, and I have pretty much decided to run for Selma Town Council again this year. I have been strongly encouraged to run again by several prominent people here in town, and I have been really contemplating it. OK, I probably decided that I would after the last election.

Anyway, what it is not too early to contemplate is financing the campaign. As of now, I am starting to take donations for the campaign financing. I have a high yield savings account already set up and I will use every dime received for campaign expenses such as printing yard signs, advertising, and flyers. If there should be no competition and therefore no real need for a campaign, then any money collected will either be returned or it will continue to draw interest for the next campaign.

I have already spent hours putting together a simple web site for my two URLs to hit. vote4troy.com and votefortroy.com will both go to this site.

I welcome your financial support, as well as people who would want to put an election sign in their yard, distribute some flyers or business cards, and maybe even knock on doors and/or work the polls in November.

My contact info is on the side of my blog. Feel free to get involved.

I would move for this

There are not too many things that would get me to move, and certainly not to Mississippi. However, this is one of them. If I could own a small radio station for just $70,000 and build it up, I would totally dig that.

Facility: 1kW AM
Location: Mississippi
Market: Confidential
Price: $70,000 (terms available)
Status: For Sale

Recently turned silent, this signal covers a good part of a larger market. Although some work is needed on the tower and transmitter, this station can again be the money maker it has been in the not too distant past.

This is a perfect Mom and Pop situation, a starter station or a retirement business. All it needs is some elbow grease and determination and it, too, can make you a nice chunk of change. Terms available with half down to the right person.

There is another station in Alaska that interests me, too. Even one in Hawaii. I really miss radio. Owning my own station is one of the few things that would motivate me to relocate.

The reality is that I am happy in my home and probably will never have that happen. Besides that, my old radio station, WBZB is again for sale right now. That station and its sister station in Durham are both up for sale. If I could get the investors, I would be a happy broadcaster. Even if I was able to buy both and sell off the Durham station, I would be very happy.

When does it end?

1. A ban on indoor smoking in public
2. A proposal for a 10 cents deposit on every bottle
3. A proposal to let local governments raise the sales tax in their jurisdictions

I despise cigarette smoking. Despise is not a strong enough word, actually. I am also a lover of freedom. Smokers' rights end where my nostrils begin, though. I don't don't believe that the government should dictate what someone does with their own establishment. If they want to allow smoking, fine. If not, fine. Personally, I would not have a smoking section if I owned a restaurant. I looked for a link to a news story online but couldn't find one yet. I saw it on WRAL's 10PM news.

A dime deposit on cans and plastic bottles? It sucks in 11 other states, don't let it suck here, too. Enough, already!!!! The only real benefactors will be those who pick up cans on the side of the road. The rest of us have to pay more and be bothered with taking them back to a facility to get our deposits back. Not only that, I find it unethical to force store owners to become tax collectors and tax refunders. That is in effect, involuntary servitude and an unfunded mandate. It will cost money to comply by all businesses and manufacturers. Stupid.

Yeah, just what we need. More taxation. Raleigh wants to be able to collect another 1/2 percent sales tax. When is enough enough? Stop spending like drunken sailors on shoreleave and maybe we can consider taxation.

I saw this leaked last week

But since it has caused a bit of a stir, I wanted to share it here.

Has Mike Sleasely ever studied economics?

It is a common thing lately for politicians to want to eliminate income taxes for the "working poor". I was one of the working poor for years. I was working hard for low pay and sometimes couldn't even afford to pay income taxes. None the less, I worked hard continually to pay off my tax burden. The only real reason that politicians propose plans like this is for votes, which yield control and power.

If only the "poor" get tax breaks and free college education, then the rest of us will be paying more as a result. There is a reason that upper income earners need tax breaks, too. They are the ones who provide jobs to low and medium wage earners. I have never gotten a job from a poor person. The two jobs I had from those who were not wealthy did not pay much and they constantly struggled to meet payroll. One poor company I worked for still owes me thousands in back pay.

Easley's State of the State address was nothing more than a liberal scheme to pander for Democrat votes. In doing so, Easley is trying to turn North Carolina into a socialist state. He wants to expand "More at Four" and Medicaid benefits. It is no wonder that the liberal NAACP is happy about the ideas.

The N&O has a story on the speech.

Whiners want to subvert the Constitution

Maryland is attempting to circumvent the US Constitution by passing state legislation that will give its electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote, regardless of how the state's results came out. That is totally opposite of the way that the electoral college process is supposed to work and basically nullifies the Constitution at the state level. Sorry, but it is a federal election, not a state election. Ergo, the election process should be dictated by the federal Constitution, not state law.

I have heard a lot of criticism of the electoral college system since the 2000 election. Our founding fathers wrote the provision for the electoral college system for a reason. It was so that large states (by population) such as New York and California can not dictate to the rest of the country how the federal government works. It is so that each state has equal representation in proportion to overall population. That means that when liberal bastions like New York City or L.A. and San Francisco vote Democrat, while the majority of the nation (geographically) votes Republican, then the dense population cities can not kill off the remaining votes.

Democracy is mob rule. We are a republic, not a democracy. In a democracy, 51% can take away the rights of the other 49%.

2000 was not the first time that the candidate that won the popular vote did not win the electoral college system. I believe that it happened two previous times, as well. It is just that with mass media in place, Americans being less educated about how the government works, and liberals being pathetic whiners and sore losers, we have them trying to rewrite things to their advantage.

The system is in place for a reason. It was wisely put in place for a reason. The system works in the way it was intended. Leave it alone.

If I could afford it, I would

Once again, the Ham and Yam Festival naming rights are on ebay. If I could afford it, I would put my site, i9570.com in the bid war. I am, however, willing to help with promotion of the event on my site. I gave free space to it last year and am doing so right now on this blog. I would be interested in seeing my site logo at the festival, considering the region my site is meant to cover. The only problem is that my site is a non-profit site and was not meant to be a money making business. Thus far, that is exactly what it has been, and I don't plan on dumping a ton of money from my own pocket into a free public service.

The truth about assault weapons

If you don't know much about weapons, take the time to educate yourself a bit. If you want to support the proposed "assault weapons ban" that is now before Congress, educate yourself a little bit by watching this video.